Anti-Smoking Message Stronger with New Bans: Lobby Groups

Tough new smoking laws in NSW have made it illegal to light up in a number of public places including playgrounds and bus stops. The Cancer Council Australia says the bans are a sign public health messages are getting through and more smokers will be pressured to quit.

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SALLY SARA: Strict new anti-smoking laws have come into effect in New South Wales today banning smoking at bus stops, playgrounds and public swimming pools.

The legislation brings New South Wales into line with other states and territories that already have tough bans in place. Lobby groups say it's a sign the public health message is finally getting through.

Stephanie Smail reports.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: Australian smokers are running out of public places to light up. From today New South Wales' playgrounds, sporting facilities, swimming pools and even bus stops are out of bounds.

Professor Ian Olver from Cancer Council Australia suggests the move is proof public health warnings are getting through.

IAN OLVER: There's always been strong lobbies from the tobacco industry against any legislation but we're beginning to see that dissipate, particularly with the Federal Government's win on plain packaging and I think state governments are now recognising the protection of people against smoking is more important than any right that someone who's addicted to tobacco may claim.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: In New South Wales, anti-smoking measures are already enforced by most local councils, but the state laws will take over. Smokers who break the rules face hefty fines.

Professor Olver says most states and territories have already introduced sweeping smoking bans, or have plans to.

IAN OLVER: If you look at smoking in public places for examples all of the states have some legislation, they've all got some legislation about smoking with children in cars, so I think we're seeing that each of the states have stepped up to the plate. It's very difficult now to identify a last in line because as I said they're leapfrogging over each other as amendments come and go.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: The New South Wales Health Minister Jillian Skinner insists the new smoking bans will help prevent thousands of smoking-related deaths every year.

JILLIAN SKINNER: The number of people smoking has gradually reduced over the years, we're way down on where we were a couple of decades ago, which is a very good thing. But we've still got such further to go.

Over 5,000 people die each year in New South Wales alone from tobacco-related illness, and over 44,000 people are hospitalised at a cost of $8 billion a year.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: But the New South Wales Government has stopped short of banning smoking in outside dining areas for the next two years. And some casinos are exempt too.

Lobby groups like the Heart Foundation are concerned about staff working in those areas. But Jillian Skinner says today's changes are it for the moment.

JILLIAN SKINNER: We're not proposing to go any further at this stage, but who knows down the track. As far as smoking in places like the gaming rooms, I think that's voluntary, working in those places is voluntary.

STEPHANIE SMAIL: The Cancer Council's Professor Olver is confident smokers will keep being squeezed out of public areas.

IAN OLVER: When you get down to it we now have smokers, you know, clustering in black alleys outside buildings to smoke, rather than being allowed to smoke inside so it's becoming socially less acceptable and that will turn people off.